Mold for molding optical fiber connectors

Abstract

A mold for molding an optical fiber connector having a number of lens portions with a flat surface or a curved surface, is provided. The mold includes an upper molding portion, a lower molding portion, a first insert, a number of second inserts and a fixing portion. The first insert includes a number of curved molding portions and a flat molding portion. The upper molding portion, the lower molding portion, the first insert and the fixing portion cooperatively define a molding space. A distal end of each second insert is inserted into the molding space. The first insert is moveable relative to the second insert such that the curved molding portions or the flat molding portion is selectively exposed in the molding space and is opposite to the distal ends of the second inserts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mold for molding an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector having a plurality of lens portions and a plurality of fiber receiving holes aligned with the respective lens portions, each of the lens portions having a flat surface or a curved surface facing away from the respective fiber receiving hole, the mold comprising:
 an upper molding portion; 
 a lower molding portion; 
 a first insert comprising a plurality of curved molding portions for forming the curved surfaces of the lens portions, and a flat molding portion for forming the flat surfaces of the lens portions; 
 a plurality of second inserts for forming the fiber receiving holes; and 
 a fixing portion for retaining the upper molding portion, the lower molding portion, the first insert and the second inserts therein; 
 wherein the upper molding portion, the lower molding portion, the first insert and the fixing portion cooperatively define a molding space, a distal end of each second insert is inserted into the molding space, the first insert is moveable relative to the second insert such that the curved molding portions or the flat molding portion is selectively exposed in the molding space and is opposite to the distal ends of the second inserts. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical fiber connector mold of  claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises a first positioning member and a second positioning member, the first and second positioning members fixing the upper molding portion, the lower molding portion and the first insert therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The mold of  claim 2 , wherein the first positioning member comprises two side plates and a connecting plate interconnecting the side plates, the side plates and the connecting plate cooperatively define a receiving space therebetween, the upper molding portion, and the lower molding portion and the first insert are received in the receiving space. 
     
     
       4. The mold of  claim 3 , wherein the second positioning member comprises a base and a protruding portion protruding from the base, and the protruding portion is engaged into the receiving space. 
     
     
       5. The mold of  claim 3 , wherein the first insert comprises an adjusting surface facing away from the lower mold, and a plurality of first adjusting holes defined in the adjusting surface, the connecting plate defines a number of second adjusting holes corresponding to the first adjusting holes. 
     
     
       6. The mold of  claim 3 , wherein the upper molding portion comprises a first molding surface, and the lower molding portion comprises a second molding surface opposite to the first molding surface of the upper molding portion. 
     
     
       7. The mold of  claim 6 , wherein the lower molding portion comprises two first support members and a second support member formed on the second molding surface, the first molding surface of the upper molding portion is supported by the first support members and the second support member. 
     
     
       8. The mold of  claim 7 , wherein the first support member defines a plurality of positioning holes corresponding to the second inserts, the second positioning member defines a number of through holes corresponding to the positioning holes, and each second insert passes through the corresponding positioning hole and the through hole. 
     
     
       9. The mold of  claim 5 , wherein the adjusting surface faces away from the curved molding portions and the flat molding portion. 
     
     
       10. A mold for molding an optical fiber connector, the optical fiber connector having a plurality of lens portions and a plurality of fiber receiving holes aligned with the respective lens portions, each of the lens portions having a flat surface or a curved surface facing away from the respective fiber receiving hole, the mold comprising:
 a first insert comprising a molding face, the molding face including a plurality of curved molding portions for forming the curved surfaces of the lens portions, and a plurality of flat molding portions for forming the flat surfaces of the lens portions; 
 a plurality of second inserts for forming the fiber receiving holes; and 
 wherein the first insert is moveable relative to the second insert such that the curved molding portions or the flat molding portions are selectively moved to be opposite to distal ends of the second inserts.